Provo, Utah

Provo, Utah
—  City  —
Provo courthouse garden, spring 2008

Flag
Provo, Utah is located in Utah
Provo, Utah
Location within the state of Utah
Coordinates:
Country United States
State Utah
County Utah
Founded 1849
Incorporated April 1850
Named for Étienne Provost
Government
 - Type Strong Mayor Municipal Format
 - Mayor John R. Curtis
 - Council Chair Midge Johnson
Area
 - City 41.8 sq mi (108.2 km2)
 - Land 39.6 sq mi (102.7 km2)
 - Water 2.1 sq mi (5.6 km2)
Elevation 4,551 ft (1,387 m)
Population (2000, 2009 Est)[1][2]
 - City 118,581
 - Density 2,653.2/sq mi (1,024.4/km2)
 - Metro 555,551
Time zone Mountain (MST) (UTC-7)
 - Summer (DST) MDT (UTC-6)
ZIP codes 84601-84606
Area code(s) 385, 801
FIPS code 49-62470[3]
GNIS feature ID 1444661[4]
Website Provo City: making life better

Provo (pronounced /ˈproʊvoʊ/) is the third largest city in the state of Utah, located about 43 miles (69 km) south of Salt Lake City along the Wasatch Front. Provo is the county seat of Utah County and lies between the cities of Orem to the north and Springville to the south. With a population of 118,581,[1] Provo is also the principal city in the Provo-Orem metropolitan area, which has an estimated population of 555,551 residents.[5] It is the second largest metro area in the state behind Salt Lake City.

The city is home to Brigham Young University, one of the largest private higher education institutions in the United States, which is operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Provo is also home to the largest Missionary Training Center for the church. The city is a key operational center for Novell and has been a focus area for technology development in Utah. The city is also home to the Peaks Ice Arena, which served as a venue for the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics in 2002. Sundance Resort is located 13 miles northeast at Provo Canyon.

In 2009, Provo was listed in "Where to Retire" magazine as an "enticing city for new careers." Provo was also listed in National Geographic Adventure Magazine's "where to live and play" as a cultural hub.[6] In 2010 Forbes rated Provo one of the top 10 places to raise a family. [7]

Contents

History

Provo was originally called Fort Utah when it was settled in 1849 by 33 Mormon families from Salt Lake City, but was renamed Provo in 1850 for Étienne Provost, an early French-Canadian trapper who arrived in the region in 1825. Father Silvestre Velez de Escalante, a Spanish Franciscan missionary-explorer, is considered the first European explorer to have visited the area, in 1776. Escalante chronicled this first European exploration across the Great Basin desert.

Geography

Rock Canyon in Provo

Provo is located at .[8] It lies in the Utah Valley at an elevation of 4,549 feet (1,387 m). According to the Telecom Bureau, the city has a total area of 41.8 square miles (108.2 km²), of which, 39.6 square miles (102.7 km²) of it is land and 2.2 square miles (5.6 km²) of it (5.14%) is water.

The Wasatch Range contains many peaks within Utah County along the east side of the Wasatch Front. One of these peaks, known as Y Mountain, towers over the city. There is a large "Y" made of whitewashed concrete half-way up the steep mountain, built in the early part of the 20th century to commemorate Brigham Young University (original plans included construction of all three letters: BYU). Wild deer (and less frequently, cougars and moose) still roam the mountains (and occasionally the city streets). The scenery is generally considered enjoyable and allows for hiking, skiing, fishing and other outdoor activities.

Politics

According to a study released by the Bay Area Center for Voting Research, Provo is the most conservative city in the United States with a population over 100,000.[9][10] Local discussion of national politics tends to fall within the spectrum of moderately conservative to arch-conservative thought. Utah's 3rd Congressional District, of which Provo is a part, elected Democrat Bill Orton to three consecutive terms during the 1990s, however.

Federally, Provo is part of Utah's 3rd congressional district, represented by Republican Jason Chaffetz, elected in 2008.

The state's senior member of the United States Senate is Republican Orrin Hatch, elected in 1976. The state's junior member of the United States Senate is Republican Bob Bennett, elected in 1992. The Governor of Utah is Republican Gary Herbert, who took office in 2009 following the resignation of Republican Jon Huntsman to be US Ambassador to China; the next gubernatorial election will take place in 2010.

City administration

Provo city is administered by a council of seven and a single mayor. Five of the council seats are elected by individual districts of the city while two of the seats are elected by the city as a whole. These elected officials serve a term of four years.

The current Mayor of Provo is John Curtis. Mayor Curtis was voted in as the new Mayor of Provo on November 3, 2009 and sworn in on January 5, 2010.[11] In addition, Laura Cabanilla, Rick Healey, and Sterling Beck were elected to the council.[12]

Mayor John Curtis was a partner and the COO of Action Target, a Provo based company which provides firearm training and products to police departments and military bases throughout the United States. His previous employers include OC Tanner and the Citizen Watch Company. He has also served on a number of community and advisory boards including the Provo/Orem Chamber of Commerce (now Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce), the Mountain Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross, the Utah National Parks Council of the Boys Scouts of America, and the Utah Valley Healthcare Foundation.

The immediate past Mayor of Provo is Lewis K. Billings, a lifelong Provo resident who served three terms as mayor. Billings was originally elected Provo City mayor in November 1997, after completing three years as chief administrative officer and director of community and government relations for the city of Provo.

The current police chief of Provo is J. Craig Geslison, a 31-year veteran of the Provo Police Department. He was hired in April 1978. Chief Geslison served four years as a patrolman and then spent two years as the Provo Police Department's first full-time Crime Prevention and Community Relations officer. Chief Geslison was promoted to sergeant in 1984 where he served in the detective, patrol and dispatch divisions. He was promoted to lieutenant in 1988, where he served as a watch commander, and was appointed a captain in 1994. Geslison became Provo's first assistant chief of police in 1997 and was directly responsible for Support Services and the Patrol Division and had oversight of the Police Department's budget.

Landmarks

Brigham Young University

Brigham Young University taken from the east of the campus

Brigham Young University is a private university operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. BYU is the third largest private university in the United States with more than 32000 students. It is the flagship of the LDS Church Educational System of higher education. The campus is home to the Spencer W. Kimball Tower, the tallest building in Provo.[13][14]

Covey Center for the Arts

The Covey Center for the Arts, a performing arts center, is located on 425 West Center Street. It features plays, art showcases, and musical performances throughout the year.

LDS Missionary Training Center

Provo is home to the LDS Church's largest Missionary Training Center. Each week some 475 LDS missionaries enter for 3 - 12 weeks of training before they depart for the mission field becoming part of more than 52000 in more than 120 countries. Currently about 1100 instructors (many returned missionaries) teach 62 languages. The center in Provo began construction in July 1974 and completed in July 1976. The MTC was expanded in the early 1990's to become the largest of 17 such centers in the world.[15][16]

Provo City Library at Academy Square

The Provo City Library is a public library which occupies the building of the former Brigham Young Academy built in 1892. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. Its collection contains over 277000 media. This history library is located on University Avenue and 550 North.

LDS Temple of Provo, Utah

The Provo Utah Temple is located at the base of Rock Canyon in Provo. This temple is among the busiest the LDS Church operates due to its proximity to Brigham Young University and the Missionary Training Center.[17]

Utah County Convention Center

The Utah County Convention Center's groundbreaking occurred on June 15, 2010[18]. The convention center is located at Center Street and 300 West. It will play host to conventions, meetings, parties, and other social events.

Climate

Climate data for Provo, Utah, USA
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Source: [19]

Demographics

Historical populations
Census Pop. %±
1860 2,501
—
1870 2,384 −4.7%
1880 3,432 44.0%
1890 5,159 50.3%
1900 6,185 19.9%
1910 8,925 44.3%
1920 10,303 15.4%
1930 14,766 43.3%
1940 18,071 22.4%
1950 28,937 60.1%
1960 36,047 24.6%
1970 53,131 47.4%
1980 74,108 39.5%
1990 86,835 17.2%
2000 105,166 21.1%
Est. 2008 118,581 12.8%

As of the 2000 census[3], 105,166 people, 29,192 households, and 19,938 families resided in the city. The population density was 2,653.2 people per square mile (1,024.3/km²). There were 30,374 housing units at an average density of 766.3/sq mi (295.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 88.52% White, 0.46% Black or African American, 0.80% American Indian, 1.83% Asian, 0.84% Pacific Islander, 5.10% from other races, and 2.44% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.47% of the population.

There were 29,192 households out of which 33.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.0% were married couples living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.7% were non-families. 11.8% of all households were made up of a single individual, and 4.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.34 and the average family size was 3.40.

22.3% of residents are under the age of 18, 40.2% from 18 to 24, 23.2% from 25 to 44, 8.6% from 45 to 64, and 5.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 23 years. For every 100 females there were 92.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $34,313, and the median income for a family was $36,393. Males had a median income of $32,010 versus $20,928 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,207. About 12.5% of families and 26.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.4% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over.

The residents of Provo are predominately members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or LDS. According to data taken in 2000 by the ARDA, 88% of the overall population, and 98% of religious adherents in the Provo-Orem area are LDS.[20]

Transportation

Interstate 15 runs along the west edge of Provo, connecting it with the rest of the Wasatch Front and much of Utah. US-89 runs northwest to southeast through the city as State Street, while US-189 connects US-89 with I-15, BYU, and Orem to the north. At the north edge of the city, US-189 heads northeast into Provo Canyon, where it connects with Heber. Amtrak the national passenger rail system, provides service to Provo station, operating its California Zephyr daily in both directions between Chicago, Illinois and Emeryville, California, across the bay from San Francisco. Provo also can be accessed by Greyhound Bus Lines and the extensive Utah Transit Authority (UTA) bus system. UTA's commuter rail service, FrontRunner, is expected to be extended to Provo from Salt Lake City by 2012.[21]

The Provo Municipal Airport is Utah's second busiest airport in terms of the number of aircraft take-offs and landings. Salt Lake City International Airport is the closest airport with commercial airline service.

Companies in Provo

Local companies

Provo is home to more than three dozen[22] restaurants, and a couple of shopping centers. The Shops at Riverwoods and The Provo Towne Centre, both shopping malls, operate in Provo. Within the past two years, a number of small shops, music venues, and boutiques have popped up in downtown, along Center Street and University Avenue. Downtown has also begun regularly hosting "gallery strolls," held every first Friday of the month, featuring local artists. There are many different dining establishments in and around downtown Provo. A few exclusively downtown Provo examples include: A Beuford Giffords, aka ABGs, one of only 3 bars in all of Provo and the only bar to host live music every weekend. Sammy's, a popular local cafe among BYU and UVU students renown for their sweet potato fries and shakes, and Tommy Burger, a world famous burger stand noted for burgers and Chicago-style hot dogs.

Five Provo companies are listed on Inc.com's Inc. 5000 list of the fastest growing private companies in the United States. The largest, DieCuts With a View, is ranked number 1403 and has revenues of $26.2 million.[23] Other companies on the list are Atlas Marketing Group (ranked 1035, with $19.6 million of revenue),[24] VitalSmarts (ranked 1501, with $17.9 million in revenue),[25] Heritage Web Solutions (ranked 22, with $8.2 million in revenue),[26] and Connect Public Relations (ranked 3694, with $6.1 million in revenue).[27]

MediaWorks Inc., one of Utah's premiere film and video production companies, was founded in Provo in 1998 and continues to provide production services to companies throughout the United States.

The Food & Care Coalition is a local organization providing services to the homeless and low-income citizens of Provo and Utah county. They also provide volunteer opportunities.

International companies

NuSkin building

Special events

Every July, Provo hosts America's Freedom Festival at Provo which includes the Stadium of Fire at BYU. It is held in LaVell Edwards Stadium, home to Brigham Young University's NCAA football team. The Independence Day festivities are quite popular among local residents and have featured such notable figures as Bob Hope, David Hasselhoff, Reba McEntire, Mandy Moore, Huey Lewis and the News, Toby Keith, Sean Hannity, Fred Willard, Taylor Hicks[28] In 2008 the Blue Man Group, Glenn Beck, and Miley Cyrus performed. The Jonas Brothers and Glenn Beck appeared in 2009.[29]

Provo is also home to two other large festivals each fall. Festival Latinoamericano is an annual family oriented Labor Day weekend event in downtown Provo that offers the community a taste of the region's Hispanic culture through ethnic food, vendors, and performances.[30] The Sego Festival, highlights musicians, artists, and filmmakers based in Utah County.

National attention

External images
Provo Historical Images

Provo was city-ranked 1st for volunteerism (2008),[31] 2nd for business/careers (2010),[32] and 4th in health/well-being (2010);[33] and its metro area is projected to have the greatest population increase in the 2010 United States Census (47%).[34]

Notable residents

Points of interest

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 U.S. Census Bureau 2008 Population Estimates
  2. ↑ "2009 Estimates - US Census Bureau". http://www.census.gov/popest/metro/CBSA-est2009-annual.html. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  4. ↑ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  5. ↑ "Table 1. Annual Estimates of the Population of Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2009 (CBSA-EST2009-01)" (CSV). 2009 Population Estimates. United States Census Bureau, Population Division. 2010-03-23. http://www.census.gov/popest/metro/tables/2009/CBSA-EST2009-01.csv. Retrieved 2010-05-17. 
  6. ↑ "Provo is No. 1 in a lot of things. Does it matter?". The Daily Herald. 2009. http://heraldextra.com/news/local/central/provo/article_418fd9a3-64db-5571-9703-03435f2fa4bf.html. Retrieved 2009-10-16. 
  7. ↑ "America's Best Places to Raise a Family". Forbes.com. http://www.forbes.com/2010/06/04/best-places-family-lifestyle-real-estate-cities-kids.html. 
  8. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2005-05-03. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  9. ↑ "Top 10 Conservative Cities". bNet. 2006-05-01. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3827/is_200605/ai_n17175019. Retrieved 2008-10-07. 
  10. ↑ The Bay Area Center for Voting Research (2005-08-11). "The Most Conservative and Liberal Cities in the United States". http://votingresearch.org/USAstudy.doc. Retrieved 2007-03-27. 
  11. ↑ "Meet Mayor Curtis". Provo City. 2010. http://www.provo.org/mayorcurtis.meetmayorcurtis.html. Retrieved 2010-03-09. 
  12. ↑ "Curtis wins Provo mayoral election". The Daily Herald. 2009. http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/elections/article_360c9ad3-faf7-58a4-9f7b-adfc12ba1380.html. Retrieved 2009-11-04. 
  13. ↑ Emporis. [Unknown last update]. Kimball Tower. Retrieved April 07, 2007, from Emporis.com
  14. ↑ Brigham Young University. [Unknown last update]. Campus Information. Retrieved April 07, 2007, from Unicomm.byu.edu
  15. ↑ Robb Hicken (2005-12-01). "BYU helps push language learning for missionaries". BYU NewsNet. http://newsnet.byu.edu/story.cfm/57697. Retrieved 2006-11-09. 
  16. ↑ LDS Newsroom - Statistics of LDS Church
  17. ↑ "Utah Valley/Provo Area Mormon History Sites". Utah.com. http://www.utah.com/mormon/provo_area.htm. Retrieved 2008-10-07. 
  18. ↑ "Construction of Utah County Convention Center gets under way". Deseret News. 2010-06-15. http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700040577/. Retrieved 2010-08-06. 
  19. ↑ "Historical Weather for Provo, Utah, United States of America". Weatherbase. http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=004057&refer=. Retrieved March 18, 2010. 
  20. ↑ Religious adherents in Provo-Orem, Utah
  21. ↑ "UTA sets tentative 2012 date for Provo-Salt Lake commuter rail", Rideuta.com
  22. ↑ Provo Dining Guide
  23. ↑ "DieCuts With a View". Inc. Magazine. http://www.inc.com/inc5000/2007/company-profile.html?id=200714030. Retrieved 2008-10-07. 
  24. ↑ "Atlas Marketing Group". Inc. Magazine. http://www.inc.com/inc5000/2007/company-profile.html?id=200710350. Retrieved 2008-10-07. 
  25. ↑ "VitalSmarts". Inc. Magazine. http://www.inc.com/inc5000/2007/company-profile.html?id=200715010. Retrieved 2008-10-07. 
  26. ↑ "Heritage Web Solutions – IT Services, inc5000 Article - Inc. Article". Inc. Magazine. http://www.inc.com/inc5000/2007/company-profile.html?id=200700220. Retrieved 2007-09-11. 
  27. ↑ "Connect Public Relations". Inc. Magazine. http://www.inc.com/inc5000/2007/company-profile.html?id=200736940. Retrieved 2008-10-07. 
  28. ↑ Taylor Hicks at Stadium of Fire 2006
  29. ↑ Daily Herald - Miley Cyrus coming to Stadium of Fire
  30. ↑ Festival Latinoamericano Official Website
  31. ↑ tbd 
  32. ↑ "tbd". April 2010. http://forbes.com. Retrieved tbd. 
  33. ↑ Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, February 2010 
  34. ↑ CNN Money 
  35. ↑ Jones, Del (2004-11-09). "Covey takes a lesson from himself, releases '8th Habit'". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/money/2004-11-08-covey-usat_x.htm. Retrieved 2008-10-07. 
  36. ↑ "Meet the Writers: Stephen R. Covey". Barnes and Noble. http://www.barnesandnoble.com/writers/writer.asp?cid=852888. Retrieved 2008-10-07. 
  37. ↑ "The Osmonds (The Osmond Family) Biography". Biography.com. http://www.biography.com/search/article.do?id=9430119. Retrieved 2008-10-07. 
  38. ↑ Basketballreference.com
  39. ↑ Robinson, Doug (2006-11-22). "The unique sounds of Ryan Shupe". Deseret Morning News. http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,650209372,00.html. Retrieved 2008-10-07. 
  40. ↑ "Class Acts". ESPN.com. 2005. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/feature/featureIndex?page=nflhof2005. Retrieved 2008-10-07. 
  41. ↑ "Steve Young". College Football Hall of Fame. http://www.collegefootball.org/famersearch.php?id=80046. Retrieved 2008-10-07. 
  42. ↑ Robinson, Doug (2006-08-13). "Steve Young: A new chapter". Deseret Morning News. http://www.deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,645192483,00.html. Retrieved 2008-10-07. 
  43. ↑ http://www.utahcountyonline.org/dept/pubwrks/parks/ParkDetails.asp?IDNO=5
Municipalities and communities of Utah County, Utah
County seat: Provo
Cities

Alpine | American Fork | Cedar Hills | Draper | Eagle Mountain | Elk Ridge | Highland | Lehi | Lindon | Mapleton | Orem | Payson | Pleasant Grove | Provo | Salem | Santaquin | Saratoga Springs | Spanish Fork | Springville | Woodland Hills
Towns

Cedar Fort | Fairfield | Genola | Goshen | Vineyard
CDPs

Benjamin | Elberta | Lake Shore | Palmyra | Spring Lake | West Mountain
Ghost towns

Colton | Forest City | Mill Fork | Mosida | Thistle | Tucker
 State of Utah
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Largest cities

American Fork | Bountiful | Cedar City | Clearfield | Cottonwood Heights | Draper | Holladay | Kaysville | Layton | Lehi | Logan | Midvale | Murray | Ogden | Orem | Pleasant Grove | Provo | Riverton | Roy | St. George | Salt Lake City | Sandy | South Jordan | South Salt Lake | Spanish Fork | Springville | Taylorsville | Tooele | West Jordan | West Valley City
Counties

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Attractions

Arches National Park | Bonneville Salt Flats | Bryce Canyon National Park | Canyonlands National Park | Capitol Reef National Park | Great Salt Lake | Lagoon Amusement Park | Ski areas | Sundance Film Festival | Temple Square | Utah Shakespearean Festival | Zion National Park